Blockbuster filmmaker JK YOUN is set to follow his hit period drama Ode to My Father (2014), the second highest grossing Korean film of all time, with Kung Fu Robot, a new joint venture between South Korea and China. Korean VFX house Dexter Studios and Wanda Pictures, the film division of Chinese company Wanda Group, will co-produce the sci-fi comedy. Also on board are YOUN’s outfit JK Film, while CJ Entertainment will be on hand to invest and distribute in Korea.

Already in development for two years, the story will take place in the near future and follow a cleaning robot who begins to learn martial arts. A launch event for Kung Fu Robot was staged by CJ Entertainment and Wanda on June 12th at the Shanghai International Film Festival. The film is expected to go into production at some point this year.

After his tidal wave disaster film Haeundae soared to 11.45 million admissions in 2009, director YOUN became the first Korean filmmaker to score two ten-million-admission hits when Ode to My Father reached 14.26 million spectators in early 2015. His shingle has also produced hits such as The Spy: Undercover Operation (2013) and last year’s The Himalayas.

Dexter Studios was founded by director KIM Yong-hwa to provide the effects for his family 3D film Mr. Go (2013) and has gone on to be a major player in the Chinese VFX field, providing services for The Monkey King (2014) and The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014), among others. Last year, Dexter received an investment worth USD 10 million from the Wanda Group.

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